[Updated] Here is your East Fourth Street Citi Bikes docking station

Dropped in fresh this afternoon on the south side of the street ... just a little west of Second Avenue, as these photos by EVG reader John Iz show...







Who's next?

Updated:

Derek Berg passed along a few more photos from East Fourth Street...

[Updated] 'Street Safety Managers' back on the East Village streets

This is becoming a common sight now weekday mornings... the presence of so-called Street Safety Managers.

To refresh your memory, per a DOT news release:

New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan today announced that DOT Street Safety Managers (SSM) are assigned to key bike and pedestrian corridors and bridge paths in Manhattan to help enhance safety among pedestrians, cyclists and motorists, further enhancing street safety as bike ridership grows, as DOT starts enforcement of commercial cycling laws and in advance of the 6,000-bike launch of the Citi Bike system.

EVG reader John took these photos... he chatted with the manager on duty this morning on Second Avenue at East 11th Street.

Per John: "They alternatively show a stop or wrong way sign to the bike lane as the lights change ... and he thinks the 'worst' corridor is 20-30s & Broadway."

And!

"He seemed pretty upbeat about being in the rain, shrug. Not too many bikes around now but they seemed to obey the sign."



And here's a shot on First Avenue at East Ninth Street from 10:30 a.m. via EVG regular Derek Berg...

New York Sports Club in the works for Avenue A

Back in February, a tipster told us that New York Health & Racquet Club is taking over all of the floors above Gracefully on Avenue A near East Second Street... turns out that's not quite accurate. According to documentation (PDF) on file at the CB3 website, the proposed new tenant for the upper floors of 28-30 Avenue is New York Sports Club.



This item is on CB3's Land Use, Zoning, Public and Private Housing Committee docket for May 8, as Serena Solomon pointed out Friday at DNAinfo.

Off the Grid completed a thorough history of the building back in July 2011. The building dates to 1871. And in its early days, it was part of Little Germany, serving as a German ballroom known as Concordia Hall.

Later, per Off the Grid:

The earliest evidence of furniture seller Burger-Klein occupying the building is from 1939.

In 1959, a four-alarm fire destroyed the roof and top floor of the building, resulting in a significant alteration of building’s façade, most likely the face of the building we see today. It is noteworthy that the owners chose to replace what had once been an architecturally significant facade with a mid-century modern wrapping that in its own way and for its own time is as extraordinary as the 19th century face of the building.

The Burger-Klein building’s uniqueness in the streetscape is a big part of what inspires so much curiosity about it.

Read the whole post here.

Maybe the Sports Club will keep the Burger-Klein sign?

Previously on EV Grieve:
RUMOR: New York Health & Racquet Club taking over the space above Gracefully on Avenue A (24 comments)

Veselka Bowery has closed

After a 17-month run at Avalon Bowery Place, Veselka Bowery has closed, as we first reported yesterday morning. They closed at 4 yesterday, then held some "private event" in the space. (Food for Cheap Trick?)

The consensus among readers and others we talked with: Sad but not surprising. It never seemed all that full. There were attempts to get a bar crowd by showing Yankees games ... Veselka also launched a free pedicab service: "If you don't want to wait for a table at the original Veselka, we will give you a free Pedicab ride to our new restaurant Veselka Bowery."

And we recall an inauspicious opening in October 2011, where Veselka Bowery teamed up with Urban Daddy, who usually champions the likes of Superdive, for a $75 sneak preview tasting menu that includes a "five-course pierogi-and-vodka pairing." (Read the comments from that post.)

At the end of the day, people seemed to just want a diner. But that concept isn't going to work here, at a glass-and-steel factory like Avalon Bowery Place.

Anyway, the food press will likely have some exit interviews with the Veselka folks about what happened here. For now, the signs on the Veselka Bowery door thank people for their patronage, "Love and Light to you all!"

[Updated] Making way for the Citi Bikes docking station on East Second Street

The docking stations for the Citi Bikes bike share continue to pop up around the neighborhood... We've heard a few stories where cars were towed from areas where the docking stations were going in — despite the lack of warning via No Parking signs. (Gothamist has more about this here.)

These signs are up on East Second Street just east of Avenue, as EVG reader Mark White points out...

Per Mark, the signs are "taped facing straight out to the street, not at an angle for drivers POV. As you can see, they are not easy to spot and on a congested block where where is never any parking as it is, I'm sure they will be angrily torn down in no time."





And the Citi Bikes drama continues...

Updated 1:01 p.m.

As predicted, Mark notes that someone ripped off part of the No Parking notice ...

Another parcel of East 14th Street for sale

As we've been noting, many businesses on East 14th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B are either relocating or closing to make way for some yet-unspecified development.

Last December, we learned that eight parcels consisting of 222 Avenue A and 504 - 530 E. 14th St. (excluding No. 520) were leased for a 99-year period by the respective owner of East Village 14 LLC.

Now, 534 E. 14th St., the building directly next door to the former ABC Animal Hospital, has hit the market. Not necessarily related to the other development, but certainly worth noting. Per the listing at Plaza Real Estate Group:

A unique Five Story walk up building located in central Alphabet City. Close to shopping, cafes, bars and all the East Village has to offer. This walk up building boosts a recently gut-renovated lobby complete with walls of mirrors and mosaic tiles.

Make: Steel/ Brick Size: Approximately 6,700 Square Feet Block / Lot: 407/ 25
Improvements: New Gas conversion/Burner. Brand new gut renovated Lobby 1st floor. All Hallways were recently renovated. Apts. over $1500.00 are renovated.

Air Rights: Approximately 3,705

Price: $7,150,000.

Previously on EV Grieve:
East 14th Street exodus continues

The disappearing storefronts of East 14th Street

[Updated with correction] 8-lot parcel of East 14th Street primed for new development

Bargain Express has closed on East 14th Street

Baiting Mary Help of Christians

Warning signs are up now at the Mary Help of Christians church and rectory on East 12th Street ... as workers baited the buildings with rat poison in advance of the impending demolition here...



Reps for developer Douglas Steiner filed permits on Thursday to demolish the now-vacant parcel of Mary Help of Christians that includes the church, school and rectory, according to DOB records.

Steiner has said that he'll build an an 80/20 residential development that's "contextually appropriate for the neighborhood."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Permits filed to demolish Mary Help of Christians church, school and rectory

Petition campaign launched to stop luxury housing at Meltzer Tower

Friends of Meltzer have launched a petition campaign to help stop the city's plan to lease the park space at Max Meltzer Tower to private developers... among other things, the new development would wipe out the park at the senior citizen development at 94 E. First St. near First Avenue ...

Per the petition:

The proposed NYCHA infill plan will create luxury housing on existing properties throughout New York City intended for residents with limited incomes, depriving them of much needed air, light, space, and recreational facilities. In the case of Meltzer Tower, a residence for low-income seniors, NYCHA is planning to destroy a local park adjacent to the building containing a stand of over two-dozen fully mature trees.

Find the petition here.

There's also a Facebook group called Friends of Meltzer with more details.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Outrage over proposal to turn the green space at the Meltzer Tower into private development (35 comments)

The Jefferson sales gallery now open on East 14th Street

Last Monday, The Jefferson — the luxury condos that rose up from the former Mystery Lot on East 13th Street — unveiled its pricing and floor plans, as BuzzBuzz Home first noted.

And the "sales gallery" is also open on East 14th Street ... where we assume retail will eventually take over once the condos, priced from $850,000 to $2.49 million, are sold. Oh, and the gallery is "by appointment only."



Previously on EV Grieve:
City approves new building for Mystery Lot

The last days of the Mystery Lot

Before it was the Mystery Lot

The Mystery Lot developers using famous dead comedians to sell condos at The Jefferson

Do Do is missing

EVG reader Seth shares this:

Anyone who's walked regularly down Broome between Eldridge and Forsyth probably knows "Do Do" — the temple cat at the Guan Gong Temple, 294 Broome. He's often sitting stoically with his quiet Buddha-nature by the door, observing passersby. Sadly, he's missing, and the temple congregants have put a few signs up around the neighborhood. Hopefully neighbors can keep an eye out around the neighborhood and park and if they see him (hopefully alive) grab him and bring him back to the temple. He's a bit of a neighborhood fixture.

David Peel sessions in Tompkins Square Park today

Here's David Peel and company in Tompkins Square Park today... not sure what what they were up to (practice?) ... sorry that we missed them...





Photos by Bobby Williams.

C'mon, C'mon

EVG regular Stephen Popkin shares these photos from earlier this evening... where Cheap Trick is ready to play the John Varvatos store on the Bowery... where the band is celebrating the 35th anniversary of "At Budokan" ...



Live stream is here.

Updated:

[Updated] Fire reported on Seventh Street and Avenue C

[@KristiAdamsNY]


[@madamelolo]


[@madamelolo]


[Looking south on Avenue C via EVG reader Noah]

Reports of smoke are coming in from all over the neighborhood... fire reported on Seventh Street and Avenue C... more to come... no word just yet of injuries or the extent of the damage...

FDNY taking care of business on 7th Street vine.co/v/bx6ggW5jOhq
— Kevin Barnett (@kevinbarnett) April 28, 2013

Huge fire on 7th street vine.co/v/bx66uXTBlmj
— Madame Lolo (@madamelolo) April 28, 2013

Updated 3:33 p.m.

#FDNY o/s at #Manhattan *75-0439* 230 E 7th St off Ave C. Fire in a 5 story multiple dwelling twitter.com/NYCFireWire/st…
— NYC Fire Wire (@NYCFireWire) April 28, 2013

Updated 3:34 p.m.


[@gaminette]

Updated 3:42

MAN ALL HANDS 230 E 7 STREET, MULTIPLE DWELLING FIRE ON THE ROOF,
— FDNY (@FDNY) April 28, 2013

Updated 4:11



The above photo is from the height of the fire via @tdouglassinger

-----

Looking at the fire from Tompkins Square Park... via EVG Facebook friend Lauren Berkery...



St. Mark's Place between First Avenue and Second Avenue...


[Via @erikakaz]

...and Brooklyn...


[Via @NgawangChoney]

Week in Grieview

[Third Avenue and St. Mark's Place yesterday, by Bobby Williams]

Permits filed to demolish Mary Help of Christians (Thursday)

'Return PS 64 to the community' (Tuesday)

Fire at Mono+Mono (Sunday)

Fire at 224 Avenue B (Monday)

Proposed dorm for 35 Cooper Square now taller (Wednesday)

Call for an East Village 'slow zone' (Monday)

Bryan Alejandro Scott's East Village (Wednesday)

Cooper Union will starting charging tuition (Tuesday)

Max Fish is likely moving to Brooklyn (Wednesday)

Heart 'N Soul has closed for now (Thursday)

Revisiting the Electric Circus, thanks to 'Mad Men' (Wednesday)

Please ID that high-piched screening noise (Tuesday)

Looking at the menu for Pride and Joy BBQ, opening soon on First Avenue (Friday)

The last interesting lot in the East Village (Thursday)

Nino's is returning (Monday)

Remembering Johnny Thunders (Tuesday)

Please mind the Street Safety Managers (Friday)

Homecoming, a community art show (Tuesday)

About the 'incompetent contractors' at Croxley Ales (Monday)


[Thursday night, by Bobby Williams]

Today is the last day for Veselka Bowery

On Thursday, a tipster told us that he overheard waitstaff at Veselka Bowery say they were closing after this weekend. However, we never received confirmation from management.

Now, though, the restaurant at Avalon Bowery Place has updated its Facebook account with this message:

Veselka Bowery wants to thank all of our old friends — and the new friends we made along the way — as we close our doors today at 4PM for the last time.

There were great times and great food. Thank you for your unending support and thanks to the East Village community for being the best little town in the country's biggest city.

We're sorry to close, but it's not goodbye if we see you in our original Veselka :: Beceлкa location, where the doors never close. Keep in touch!

The restaurant opened in November 2011.

Previously.

More later...

Soft opening at Maiden Lane on Avenue B

Maiden Lane is in soft-opening mode now on Avenue B at East 10th Street... Shawn Chittle took a quick look inside...







The cafe is awaiting its beer-wine license at the former Life Cafe space. The partners in this new venture are East Village residents Nialls Fallon and Gareth Maccubbin. This is what Fallon told us about leasing this space last fall:

"We decided on the space for two reasons, the first being we didn't want to see the 7-Eleven-Starbucks scenario you mentioned happen there. Second, we wanted to be in an iconic space that carried on some form of community identity and East Village-ness. I am excited to create something new and make sure that the corner remains owned and operated by locals."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Maiden Lane hopes to open by the end of the week for lunch service

Maiden Lane coming to East 10th Street and Avenue B

Here's what's coming to the former Life Cafe space

After 30 years, Life Cafe closes — 'until further notice' — in the East Village

[Updated] Oh, the Hyatt Union Square is open

Five-plus years in the making!

And I swear it didn't look open yesterday... Last we heard they were opening May 1. But they are now accepting reservations! And I saw people bringing luggage in and all that kind of hotel stuff here on Fourth Avenue and East 13th Street...





Updated:

Apologies — We were wrong. The restaurant with the crazy bed frame installation won't be open for a few more weeks... They are currently just serving coffee.

Checked out a room online... rates start at $459.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Through the years with the sunlight-blocking Hyatt Union Square, opening Nov. 15

(Shh! Zoltar is working again)

Be gentle.

And I took a Vine of him TALKING LOUDLY this morning right here.

East 10th Street, 10:20 a.m., April 28

Photo by Shawn Chittle.